Paramedics mainly work as part of the emergency medical services (EMS), most often in ambulances.
Paramedics can work in multiple roles, from hazardous area response team operatives, specialist paramedics (emergency care), first contact practitioners, and clinical team leaders.
You might also see paramedics working in GP surgeries and many other health settings.
Paramedics work within education to make sure our allied health professions are highly skilled and ready for any challenge that comes their way.
Dan, paramedic – education development lead
Why did you want to be a paramedic?
I was never sure what I wanted to be. I didn’t have a clear career pathway when I was younger and drifted around in various roles before finally finding this profession which I have loved ever since.
Day-to-day tasks?
The day-to-day tasks nowadays are the management and running of the education and development department.
It is my role to ensure that all my clinical colleagues receive the training that they require to be able to meet the expectations of the patients that we serve, and that the amazing staff that provide and facilitate that training are supported and looked after.
It is a world away from my previous role as a rapid response paramedic where I responded to a variety of different patient groups with various clinical needs.
Most fulfilling part of the job?
My most fulfilling part of my role now is knowing that the work we do in the education department has a direct impact on the clinical care that is provided by our front-line colleagues and as such can help thousands of patients a year.
As an operational paramedic I think that the most fulfilling part of the role was knowing that I had made a difference to a patient who really needed it.
Often the ambulance service is a lifeline for patients, literally, and knowing that we can take the care and support of the NHS to them when they need it the most, is a really rewarding feeling.